PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dominic Rude (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kyle Branson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rude comes to the cage accompanied by Gunslinger. Branson has chosen Meytal Cohen - Toxicity as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rude
vs
Branson

190 cm
33
218 lbs
24 - 8 - 1

183 cm
30
215 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Australian Xtreme Elite Supplements 160Q

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 8 - 1, fighting out of New York, Dominic Rude!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kyle Branson!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Eddie Farnsworth and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Branson fails to land the takedown.
Branson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rude.
Branson closes the distance and clinches up with Rude, looking for a takedown. Branson pushes Rude against the cage but Rude circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Branson tries to clinch there but Rude circles away.
Branson looks for a takedown but Rude sprawls well.
Dominic Rude has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyle Branson.
Branson misses with a takedown attempt
and Rude counters with a nice low kick that buckles Branson's knee momentarily.
Rude thows a body kick. Branson tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Branson on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Rude closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Branson's guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Rude wants to pass the guard but Branson is keeping the position.
Rude seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Rude got a little sloppy there for a moment and Branson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rude has managed to get both his arms back between Branson's legs - danger averted.
Rude controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Branson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rude tries to free his leg and advance position but Branson is retaining full guard.
Rude is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Branson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rude is one step ahead there.
Rude wants to pass the guard but Branson is keeping the position.
Branson keeping moving, preventing Rude from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Dominic Rude wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Branson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Rude closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Branson quickly recovers to half guard.
Branson is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rude takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Branson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rude performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dominic Rude wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Rude feints and as Branson raises his hands in defense, Rude changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rude throws a big right hand that misses.
Branson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rude passes Branson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Branson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rude is working away from the top position though.
Branson manages to get to full guard.
Branson keeping moving, preventing Rude from controlling successfully.

Branson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rude is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Branson has his foot on Rude's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rude works his way back into a safe position though.
Rude sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Branson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rude not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rude trying to control but Branson is working from the bottom.
Rude preventing the sweep.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Branson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rude works a leg free and moves into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominic Rude dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Branson fails to land the takedown.
Branson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rude but Rude pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rude connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Branson momentarily.
Rude throws a series of punches but Branson moves out of range.
Rude is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Rude fakes the leg kick and cracks Branson in the body.
The crowd cheers as Rude lands an impressive looking overhand right. Branson doesn't seem phased though.
Branson fails with the takedown
and Rude makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Dominic Rude has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyle Branson.
Rude's jab looks to have found its range, popping Branson under the eye.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Branson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rude.
Rude lands a right hook to the body.
Branson on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rude defends it nicely.
Branson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rude sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Dominic Rude is winning the standup battle so far.
Branson is breathing heavily.
Branson fails with the takedown
and Rude counters with a two punch combo.
Branson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rude counters with a nice body shot.

Rude scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rude looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Rude stalling.
Branson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
We've been informed that Branson has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Branson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rude defends well.
Rude passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Branson tries to improve position but can't.
Rude wants to control but Branson is keeping him busy.
Branson tries to bench press Rude off him but Rude keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rude wants to control but Branson is keeping him busy.
Rude scores with a couple of short elbows.
Rude working the ground and pound.
Rude controls the position.
Rude trying to control the action but Branson is working from the bottom.
Branson manages to get back to half guard.
Rude thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Rude moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Branson.
Branson is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Branson is trying to control Rude's posture but Rude avoids it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rude controlling from side mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rude moves into full mount!
Branson is wriggling around trying to escape.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rude lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Rude looking for a guillotine from mount but Branson is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominic Rude dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Branson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Rude changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Branson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rude passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Branson!
Branson working to try and regain half guard.
Rude controlling his opponent.
BOOM! Rude connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branson bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Rude trying to strike off his back.
Rude keeping full guard, as Branson tries to pass.
Branson wants to control from the top but Rude keeps moving.
Rude wants to sweep here but Branson controlling him for the moment.

Branson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Branson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Branson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rude is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rude is adopting a defensive guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rude is on top in guard.
Rude postures up.

Branson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rude doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rude manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Branson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Branson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rude defends well.
Rude stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Branson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dominic Rude is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rude trying to control but Branson is working from the bottom.
Rude has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rude pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Branson is keeping the position for now.
Rude stays in close to Branson's body and controls the position.

Branson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rude can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Branson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Rude is trying to control the position but Branson postures up.
Dominic Rude overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Branson tries to free his leg and advance position but Rude is retaining full guard.
Rude wants to sweep here but Branson controlling him for the moment.
Branson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Branson drops back looking for a leg! Rude is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rude manages to kick Branson off! Branson jumps back into Rude's guard.
Rude pulls Branson in close to his closed guard and prevents Branson from doing any damage or advancing position.

Branson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Branson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rude seems keen to control Branson's posture.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Dominic Rude.
Well Rude has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dominic Rude!
Dominic Rude managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, The Dark Side, into his post fight interview.